,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #haae ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #be1 #bjbj,mr4 ,welch 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,rodgers of ,washington7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to ensure appropriate prioritization1 spectrum planning1 and interagency coordination to support the ,internet of ,things4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,developing ,innovation and ,growing the ,internet of ,things ,act or the ,,digit ,act4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,internet of ,things refers to the growing number of connected and interconnected devices2 7#b7 estimates indicate that more than #abe1jjj1jjj1jjj devices will be connected to the internet by #bjcj2 7#c7 the ,internet of ,things has the potential to generate trillions of dollars in new economic activity around the world in the transportation1 energy1 agriculture1 manufacturing1 and health care sectors and in other sectors that are critical to the growth of the gross domestic product of the ,united ,states2 7#d7 businesses across the ,united ,states can develop new services and products1 improve the efficiency of operations and logistics1 cut costs1 improve worker and public safety1 and pass savings on to consumers by utilizing the ,internet of ,things and related innovations2 7#e7 the ,internet of ,things will-- 7,a7 be vital in furthering innovation and the development of emerging technologies2 and 7,b7 play a key role in developing artificial intelligence and advanced computing capabilities2 7#f7 the ,united ,states leads the world in the development of technologies that support the internet1 the ,united ,states technology sector is well-positioned to lead in the development of technologies for the ,internet of ,things1 and the appropriate prioritization of a national strategy with respect to the ,internet of ,things would strengthen that position2 7#g7 the ,federal ,government can implement this technology to better deliver services to the public2 and 7#h7 the ,senate unanimously passed ,senate ,resolution #aaj1 #aadth ,congress1 agreed to ,march #bd1 #bjae1 calling for a national strategy for the development of the ,internet of ,things4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that policies governing the ,internet of ,things should-- 7#a7 promote solutions with respect to the ,internet of ,things that are secure1 scalable1 interoperable1 industry-driven1 and standards-based2 and 7#b7 maximize the development and deployment of the ,internet of ,things to benefit all stakeholders1 including businesses1 governments1 and consumers4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7#c7 ,steering committee ,the term steering committee means the steering committee established under section #d7;e77#a74 7#d7 ,working group ,the term working group means the working group convened under section #d7;a74 #d4 ,federal working group 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall convene a working group of ,federal stakeholders for the purpose of providing recommendations and a report to ,congress relating to the aspects of the ,internet of ,things described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,duties ,the working group shall-- 7#a7 identify any ,federal regulations1 statutes1 grant practices1 budgetary or jurisdictional challenges1 and other sector-specific policies that are inhibiting1 or could inhibit1 the development or deployment of the ,internet of ,things2 7#b7 identify any ,federal regulations1 statutes1 and activities that have benefitted or could benefit the development or deployment of the ,internet of ,things2 7#c7 consider policies or programs that encourage and improve coordination among ,federal agencies that have responsibilities that are relevant to the objectives of this ,act2 7#d7 consider any findings or recommendations made by the steering committee and1 where appropriate1 act to implement those recommendations2 7#e7 examine-- 7,a7 how ,federal agencies can benefit from utilizing the ,internet of ,things2 7,b7 the use of ,internet of ,things technology by ,federal agencies as of the date on which the working group performs the examination2 7,c7 the preparedness and ability of ,federal agencies to adopt ,internet of ,things technology as of the date on which the working group performs the examination and in the future2 and 7,d7 any additional security measures that ,federal agencies may need to take to-- 7i7 safely and securely use the ,internet of ,things1 including measures that ensure the security of critical infrastructure2 and 7ii7 enhance the resiliency of ,federal systems against cyber threats to the ,internet of ,things2 7#f7 in carrying out the examinations required under clauses 7i7 and 7ii7 of paragraph 7#e77;,d71 ensure to the maximum extent possible the coordination of the current and future activities of the ,federal ,government relating to security with respect to the ,internet of ,things2 and 7#g7 examine any additional security measures that ,federal agencies may need to take to protect users of ,internet of ,things technology1 especially members of more vulnerable populations 7including children and older individuals74 7c7 ,agency representatives ,in convening the working group under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall have discretion to appoint representatives from ,federal agencies and departments as appropriate and shall specifically consider seeking representation from-- 7#a7 the ,department of ,commerce1 including-- 7,a7 the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration2 7,b7 the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology2 and 7,c7 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 7#b7 the ,department of ,transportation2 7#c7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security2 7#d7 the ,office of ,management and ,budget2 7#e7 the ,national ,science ,foundation2 7#f7 the ,commission2 7#g7 the ,federal ,trade ,commission2 7#h7 the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy2 7#i7 the ,department of ,energy2 and 7#aj7 the ,federal ,energy ,regulatory ,commission4 7d7 ,nongovernmental stakeholders ,the working group shall consult with nongovernmental stakeholders with expertise relating to the ,internet of ,things1 including-- 7#a7 the steering committee2 7#b7 information and communications technology manufacturers1 suppliers1 service providers1 and vendors2 7#c7 subject matter experts representing industrial sectors other than the technology sector that can benefit from the ,internet of ,things1 including the transportation1 energy1 agriculture1 and health care sectors2 7#d7 small1 medium1 and large businesses2 7#e7 think tanks and academia2 7#f7 nonprofit organizations and consumer groups2 7#g7 security experts2 7#h7 rural stakeholders2 and 7#i7 other stakeholders with relevant expertise1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7e7 ,steering committee 7#a7 ,establishment ,there is established within the ,department of ,commerce a steering committee to advise the working group4 7#b7 ,duties ,the steering committee shall advise the working group with respect to-- 7,a7 the identification of any ,federal regulations1 statutes1 grant practices1 budgetary or jurisdictional challenges1 and other sector-specific policies that are inhibiting1 or could inhibit1 the development or deployment of the ,internet of ,things2 7,b7 the identification of any ,federal regulations1 statutes1 and activities that have benefitted or could benefit the development or deployment of the ,internet of ,things2 7,c7 situations in which the use of the ,internet of ,things is likely to deliver significant and scalable economic and societal benefits to the ,united ,states1 including benefits from or to-- 7i7 smart traffic and transit technologies2 7ii7 augmented logistics and supply chains2 7iii7 sustainable infrastructure2 7iv7 precision agriculture2 7v7 environmental monitoring2 7vi7 public safety2 and 7vii7 health care2 7,d7 policies1 programs1 or multi-stakeholder activities that-- 7i7 promote or are related to the privacy of users of ,internet of ,things technology1 especially members of more vulnerable populations 7including children and older individuals72 7ii7 may enhance the security of the ,internet of ,things1 including the security of critical infrastructure2 7iii7 may protect users of the ,internet of ,things1 especially members of more vulnerable populations 7including children and older individuals72 and 7iv7 may encourage coordination among ,federal agencies with jurisdiction over the ,internet of ,things2 7,e7 the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of ,internet of ,things technology by small businesses2 and 7,f7 any international proceeding1 international negotiation1 or other international matter affecting the ,internet of ,things to which the ,united ,states is or should be a party4 7#c7 ,membership ,the ,secretary shall appoint to the steering committee members representing a wide range of stakeholders outside of the ,federal ,government with expertise relating to the ,internet of ,things1 including-- 7,a7 information and communications technology manufacturers1 suppliers1 service providers1 and vendors2 7,b7 subject matter experts representing industrial sectors other than the technology sector that can benefit from the ,internet of ,things1 including the transportation1 energy1 agriculture1 and health care sectors2 7,c7 small1 medium1 and large businesses2 7,d7 think tanks and academia2 7,e7 nonprofit organizations and consumer groups2 7,f7 security experts2 7,g7 rural stakeholders2 and 7,h7 other stakeholders with relevant expertise1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#d7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the steering committee shall submit to the working group a report that includes any findings or recommendations of the steering committee4 7#e7 ,independent advice 7,a7 ,in general ,the steering committee shall set the agenda of the steering committee in carrying out the duties of the steering committee under paragraph 7#b74 7,b7 ,suggestions ,the working group may suggest topics or items for the steering committee to study1 and the steering committee shall take those suggestions into consideration in carrying out the duties of the steering committee4 7,c7 ,report ,the steering committee shall ensure that the report submitted under paragraph 7#d7 is the result of the independent judgment of the steering committee4 7#f7 ,no compensation for members ,a member of the steering committee shall serve without compensation4 7#g7 ,termination ,the steering committee shall terminate on the date on which the working group submits the report under subsection 7f74 7f7 ,report to ,congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the working group shall submit to ,congress a report that includes-- 7,a7 the findings and recommendations of the working group with respect to the duties of the working group under subsection 7b72 7,b7 the report submitted by the steering committee under subsection 7e77#d71 as the report was received by the working group2 7,c7 recommendations for action or reasons for inaction1 as applicable1 with respect to each recommendation made by the steering committee in the report submitted under subsection 7e77#d72 and 7,d7 an accounting of any progress made by ,federal agencies to implement recommendations made by the working group or the steering committee4 7#b7 ,copy of report ,the working group shall submit a copy of the report described in paragraph 7#a7 to-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,c7 any other committee of ,congress1 upon request to the working group4 #e4 ,assessing spectrum needs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration1 shall issue a notice of inquiry seeking public comment on the current1 as of the date of enactment of this ,act1 and future spectrum needs to enable better connectivity relating to the ,internet of ,things4 7b7 ,requirements ,in issuing the notice of inquiry under subsection 7a71 the ,commission shall seek comments that consider and evaluate-- 7#a7 whether adequate spectrum is available1 or is planned for allocation1 for commercial wireless services that could support the growing ,internet of ,things2 7#b7 if adequate spectrum is not available for the purposes described in paragraph 7#a71 how to ensure that adequate spectrum is available for increased demand with respect to the ,internet of ,things2 7#c7 what regulatory barriers may exist to providing any needed spectrum that would support uses relating to the ,internet of ,things2 and 7#d7 what the role of unlicensed and licensed spectrum is and will be in the growth of the ,internet of ,things4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall submit to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives1 and each member of the working group a report that summarizes the comments submitted in response to the notice of inquiry issued under subsection 7a74